Fifth-wheel.



Patented July I7, |900.

H. c. sw AN. FIFTH WHEEL.

(Appucaeien med mr. 12, 1900.)

(No Mndel.)

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Nieren STATES PATENT Genres.,

HENRY C. SWAN, OF OSHKOSH, IVISCONSIN,

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,974, dated July 1'?, 1900.

Application led March 12, 1900. Serial No. 8,277. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, HENRY C. SWAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Oshkosh, lVinnebago county, State of Viscousin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth-VVheels, of which the following is a speeieation in such full, clear, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art vto which it appertains to make, construct, and use the same.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of my improved fifth-wheel, represented as broken away in part to more clearly disclose the construction. Fig. 2 is a side elevation in section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lower Iifthwheel. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the lower fifth-wheel on the line 5 5 of Fig. I. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the axle-plate. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the same on line 7 7 ot' Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the guard-stay.

In my improved ii'fth-wheel the upper circle 1 is rigidly secured to the bolster by means of a plate 3 or other suitable means and is provided with perch-irons i in the usual manner. The lower circle 5 is provided with a sleeve 6, that is formed integral with a brace '7. Said sleeve is arranged in line with perforations 8, formed in the upper circle and in a guard-stay 9, that is fastened to the under side of the perches and provides a socket for the king-bolt 10, which passes through the sleeve and perforations and is secured therein by a nut 11 or other suitable means. The rear wall of the sleeve is eut away at 12, and the opposite wall is provided with a recess 13 or similar construction to permit the head of a pivot-bolt 14 to seat in front of the kingbolt'without engaging therewith. Said pivotbolt passes through perforations 15, formed in the wall of the sleeve, and a downwardlydepending lug 16, and also through an eye 17 formed in the axle-plate, and is secured therein by a nut 18. The lower end of the depending lug is rounded to form a bearing 19, and a corresponding bearing 2O is formed on the front of the sleeve. The axle-plate is rigidly secured to the axle by a flange 21 or other suitable means and is provided with sockets 22 to receive said bearings, and thereby bring the eye 17in alinement with the perforations to receive the pivot-bolt.

The parts of the fth-Wheel are assembled by first securing the axle-plate to the lower fifth-wheel member and then securing the lower circle to the upper circle by means ot the king-bolt. The axle has a vertical tilting movement upon the bearings and is held against displacement bythe pivot-bolt, which is arranged so as to be entirely independent of the king-bolt.

By means of this construction the pivotbolt is arranged above and near the top of the axle and intermediate the ends of the king bolt without engaging or interfering therewith in any way. The fifth-wheel as a complete article can be secured to a vehicle without changing or removing either the king-bolt or pivot-bolt or readjusting any of its parts, and in case it is desired to remove the king-bolt for any reason it can be done without removing the pivot-bolt. The same iifth-wheel can be used in connection with bolsters and axles of different depth and shape without any change in the construction,

I claim as my invention-A 1. In a fth-wheel, the combination with the lower circle and an axle-plate having a bearing'on said lower circle, of a pivot-bolt passing through said parts, said pivot-bolt being in front of and intermediate with the ends of the king-bolt, substantially as described.

2. In a fifth-wheel, the combination with a lower circle provided with a sleeve forming part of the king-bolt socket and with rounded bearings, of an axle-plate, and a pivotbolt passing through said`sleeve and aXleplate to hold said axle-plate in engagement with said bearings, said pivot-bolt being arranged in front of and intermediate the ends of the king-bolt, substantially as described.

3. In a fifth-wheel, the combination with a lower circle provided with a sleeve, having its rear portion cut away, and two bearings, one of said bearings being formed integral with the sleeve, of a tiltingaXle-plate, and a pivot-bolt engaging through said axle-plate and a perforation formed in the sleeve to hold the axle-plate in engagement with the bearings, said pivot-bolt being arranged intermediate of the ends of the king-bolt and IOO out of contact therewith, substantially as described.

4. In a fifth-wheel, the combination of an upper circle provided with a perforation, a lower circle provided with a sleeve, a guardstay provided with a perforation in its forward end, and a king-bolt passing through said sleeve and perforations, the rear wall of said sleeve being cut away, and its front wall being provided with a recess, of a tilting axleplate rigidly secured to the axle, and a pivotbolt seating in said recess and passing through said axle-plate to hold same in engagement withsaid bearings, said pivot-bolt being arranged in front of the king-bolt, and independent thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this application, n the presence of two witnesses, this 9th day of March, 1900.

HENRY C. SWAN.

Witnesses:

G. H. FOSTER, C. I. HENDERSON. 

